Towards journalometrical analysis of a scientific periodical: a case study

TL;DR

This study applies complex network, statistical, and queueing theories to analyze the scientific journal 'Condensed Matter Physics' as a complex system, revealing its structure, trends, impact, and editorial efficiency over time.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive, multi-method approach to journal analysis, combining network, statistical, and queueing models to assess various aspects of a scientific publication.

Findings

Co-authorship network characteristics identified

Scientific trend priorities analyzed through citation data

Editorial processing times modeled with queueing theory

Abstract

In this paper we use several approaches to analyse a scientific journal as a complex system and to make a possibly more complete description of its current state and evolution. Methods of complex networks theory, statistics, and queueing theory are used in this study. As a subject of the analysis we have chosen the journal ``Condensed Matter Physics'' (http://www.icmp.lviv.ua/journal/). In particular, based on the statistical data regarding the papers published in this journal since its foundation in 1993 up to now we have composed the co-authorship network and extracted its main quantitative characteristics. Further, we analyse the priorities of scientific trends reflected in the journal and its impact on the publications in other editions (the citation ratings). Moreover, to characterize an efficiency of the paper processing, we study the time dynamics of editorial processing in terms of queueing theory and human activity analysis.